Bangladeshi film on a teacher’s quest for justice makes waves at Cannes

KOLKATA: Bangladeshi actress Azmeri Haque Badhon couldn’t hold back her tears when her film, ‘Rehana Maryam Noor’, received a standing ovation at the 74th Cannes Film Festival on July 7. Badhon, who plays the titular role of a woman in pursuit of justice in Abdullah Mohammad Saad’s Bengali film, was overwhelmed by the reaction at the screening of the first Bangladeshi film to be a part of the festival’s official line-up.
Images of Badhon clad in a beige Aarong-designed Bangladeshi ‘jamdani’ paired with a halter-neck blouse and statement silver ornaments have flooded timelines of her admirers in both Bangladesh and India. An eight-member team of the film reached Cannes on June 25. It included executive producer Ehsanul Haque Babu, colourist Chinmoy Roy, sound engineer Sayba Talukder, cinematographer Tuhin Tamijul, production designer Ali Afzal Ujjwal and Singaporean producer Jeremy Chua.
Jeremy Chua, Azmeri Haque Badhon, Abdullah Mohammad Saad and Ehsanul Haque Babu at Cannes
“Saad, Babu, Jeremy Chua and myself were invited to the opening. Saad took a call not to go because he didn’t want to leave behind the rest of our team members. We all agreed since we believe that our Cannes journey wouldn’t have been possible without everyone’s contribution. Our director respects every member of the unit. That is why everyone gives their 100% too,” Badhon told TOI from Cannes.
This decision to celebrate the team spirit has become as much a talking point as the film’s reception at the 'Un Certain Regard' screening. “The standing ovation was a matter of great pride, honour and joy for our nation. Some 1,000 viewers watched the film. Once over, I heard a thunderous applause that lasted for five to six minutes,” she added.
Azmeri Haque Badhon at Cannes
In the film, Badhon plays an assistant professor of a medical college who finds herself in a difficult position after witnessing a sexual assault where she knows both the victim and the perpetrator. Her character, Badhon said, has shades that overlap with her personal experiences. “Shooting the last scene had resulted in an emotional breakdown. Watching it on screen made me burst into tears. Looking around, I saw many others weeping too,” she said and added, “In our heart, we had carried the sentiments of our nation. The accolades at Cannes is a tribute to our nation.”
That night Badhon had bumped into a French lady on the street. She was wearing a mask and didn’t expect to be recognised. “When I said sorry for bumping into her, this lady asked me if I had played Rehana. She spoke in broken English, but language is no barrier when it comes to empathy. To be recognised in a foreign land by a viewer who doesn’t understand Bangla, but watched the subtitled film anyway was overwhelming,” Badhon said.
It will indeed be a momentous occasion for Bengali cinema if ‘Rehana Maryam Noor’ wins when the results are declared on July 16.